According to media reports [3], officials from China’s General Administration of Customs completed their inspections of Indonesian durian plantations and packing facilities as scheduled [4] in March to evaluate the potential for durian export cooperation. Indonesia’s durian industry [5] is now addressing logistical challenges in preparation for exporting to China.

Muhammad Tahir, director of PT Ammar Durian Indonesia, a durian export company based in Central Sulawesi, believes that shipping durians to China directly from Pantoloan in Central Sulawesi could reduce the transportation time from one month to one week and potentially cut shipping costs in half. The company aims to increase its annual export volume from 30 to 50 containers.

According to data from the Central Sulawesi provincial government, the registered durian cultivation area in the province currently spans approximately 3,056 hectares across five regencies, namely, Parigi Moutong (1,462 hectares), Poso (1,162 hectares), Sigi (212 hectares), Donggala (151 hectares) and Tolitoli (70 hectares). However, registered orchards represent only 10% of the total durian cultivation area, with the vast majority still awaiting official certification from the local government.

Among these five regencies, three — Parigi Moutong, Poso and Sigi — have already declared their readiness to export durians to China. Additionally, there are 15 durian packing facilities, with seven already registered and the rest still undergoing the process.

However, industry analysts believe that Indonesia may not be able to meet China’s demand immediately. Although Indonesia produced 1.83 million metric tons of durians in 2023, making it one of the world’s largest durian producers, most of this output is consumed domestically. China’s strict regulations on imported fruits also pose challenges for durian exports, while logistical hurdles remain a significant concern. To mitigate food safety risks, Indonesia may initially focus on exporting frozen durians.

While Indonesia seeks to enter the Chinese market, Thailand and Vietnam, two major durian suppliers to China, are shifting their focus to India owing to concerns [6] over the presence of the unpermitted dye auramine O and excessive cadmium levels in their exports.

Thailand is planning to further expand its durian exports to international markets, with key destinations including the United States, Europe and India. In April, the prime minister of India is scheduled to visit Thailand, and the Thai government hopes to leverage this opportunity to open new markets for the country’s durians.

Vietnam began negotiations regarding durian exports with India in 2023 and has now reached an agreement on pest and disease control. India’s phytosanitary regulations are more lenient than China’s, making market entry easier for Vietnamese exporters. Reports [7] indicate that Indian companies have already initiated discussions with the head of the Dak Lak Durian Association in Vietnam, expressing their interest in importing Vietnamese durians.

Image: Pixabay

This article was translated from Chinese. Read the original article [8].